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Man On Wire Rating: A- The film purports to be only concerned with how, not why, but in the breathless serenity of its climax, the answer to the why suddenly materializes, poised more than 400m over empty air (a site whose significance is made all the more powerful for never ever being mentioned): defiant, evanescent, transcendental. In one word: Poetry. He's Just Not That Into You (Inflight) Rating: C+ Gee, I really have no idea what to say about this movie. It is not entirely disagreeable, yet it is somewhat distasteful, and it is such a trifle I simply can't get myself worked up enough to work out why. Permanent Residence Rating: C- The rather ordinary prologue never quite prepares you for what is to come, a film whose version of reality is so unique, you know the director must live in a parallel universe. Now here is that rare thing I love stumbling upon in my movie-going: a film so extravagantly and humorlessly bad it's hilarious. Entre les Murs (The Class) (Inflight) Rating: B+ Notwithstanding its refusal to tidy life's moral morass into pithy sayings and instructive truisms (hello, Yasmin Ahmad), or to end on an inspirational high, this Palm D'Or winner sidesteps just about every platitude you would expect in a film about a teacher and a class of problem kids, but still lapses into stereotype beyond the walls referred to in the film's French title. Men and Women (DVD) Rating: B- Is there a political allegory in this? As with almost every Chinese work (whether painting or film): who knows? Engaging enough while it lasts (some silly toilet jokes, lovely cinematography, a comely central object of affection), though the overall impression is one of slightness. Flare: Promises in December Rating: B- Kitchen Quartet Rating: C Respirator Rating: B Mu Dan Rating: B+ Frail Line Rating: C- My Underwear, My World Rating: C The Neighbourhood Ghost Rating: C- Backyard Bowler Rating: C- Threshold Rating: N.A. 'Promises' can do with less manipulation and more restraint (that last phone call, the dropped teddy bear – really?). 'Kitchen' is simple-minded and sentimental, its cluelessness underlined many times by its cheesy ending montage. 'Respirator', if more fully developed, could be an instant classic. 'Mu Dan' has sex, camp, surrealist simmer – Brian G Tan, you have competition! 'Frail Line', like too many local shorts, mistakes wallowing for drama, and more problematically, uses incest as a punchline. Someone please tell the director of 'Underwear' that a boy pulling briefs over his head is cute for all of, like, one second; making it a running gag for 16 minutes, when you don't have much of a story, is not funny (too many unloved children and misunderstood parents in Singapore cinema, no?). 'Ghost' invites us to laugh at a blind man – I suppose it is a refreshing change from celebrating a handicapped person's Nobility, Humanity, etc. Now if only the result is amusing. Of course, a blind man, especially one who is blind for many years, would confuse his blindness with death when he falls down. What a cinematic imagination! As for 'Bowler', I don't know if it is a series of unrelated skits or what. One thing for sure: this bowling ball clunked straight into the drain. Okay, so far so bitchy. So I won't praise 'Threshold' lest people say I biased. Let the Right One In (DVD) Rating: C+ Yes, this one has more wide shots than one is accustomed to in a horror movie, all gorgeously framed and lit, and also quite unusually, stages what little action it has within these wide shots. However, I'm afraid not much in the story add up. And not much make me afraid, either. Verité and vampire – not a good match. Post a comment in response: |
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